Our Roots
McCrea Farm History
In 1823 John McCrea came from Donegal County in Ireland and settled in Shannon, New Brunswick, named after the first settler John Shannahan.
In the 1940’s John McCrea, great grandson of the first John McCrea bought land next to the original McCrea homestead in Shannon. John’s two sons Lawrence and Gordon began to farm this area.
Lawrence continued to expand the farm land in the area as it became available. Lawrence’s son James has continued this tradition and the once 300 acre farm now measures in excess of 5000 acres.
In 1972 the farm was incorporated and became McCrea Farms Ltd. James has been the President of the farm since 1980.
We manage a beef and dairy herd of over 200 head. The woodlot is managed to produce forest products, maple syrup, Christmas trees and Christmas wreathes while at the same time enhancing the area for wildlife, recreation and the protection of streams, soils and plant communities.
The farm is centrally located in New Brunswick and offers accommodations through Airbnb, farm tours, fishing, hunting, swimming, boating, woodlot tours and woodlot trails for hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowshoeing.
Since John McCrea arrived in Shannon in 1821, seven more generations have stayed to live and farm in the area. Many visitors as well as those passing by have exclaimed “the farm is the most beautiful farm they have ever seen”. It is set among rolling hills and forest land and has the quality of taking one back in time to a simpler lifestyle.
